Canopy for bicycles



(No Model.)

T. THYOMP CANOPY FOR BIGYGLBS.

2 Sheets--'Sheet 1.

Patented Jan. 12, 1897.

it a.

WITNESSES:

:1 s co more u A NOR/VH8.

' 2 Sheets-Shet 2. T. THOMPSON. CANOPY FQIFJBIGYGLES.

no Model.)

Patented Jan. 12', 1897'.

//vv 11/709 V ATTORNEYS.

WITNESSES UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS THOMPSON, OF DANBURY, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TOCHARLES B. HATCH, OF NEV FAIRFIELD, CONNECTICUT.

CANOPY FOR BICYCLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 575,182, dated January12, 1897.

Application filed July 2, 1896. Serial No. 597,806. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, THOMAS THOMPSON, of Danbury, in the county ofFairfield and State of Connecticut, have invented a new and ImprovedCanopy for Bicycles and Like Vehicles of which the following is a fullclear, and exact description.

This invention relates to an attachable canopy for protecting the riderof a bicycle or similar vehicle from thesun and rain, and has for itsobject to provide a novel, simple, and efficient device of the indicatedcharacter which may be quickly placed in position for service upon thebicycle or removed therefrom and that is adapted for a close folding ofits parts when not in use.

The invention consists in the novel construction and combination ofparts, as is hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part ofthis specification, in which similar characters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a bicycle and a partly-sectional sideView of the improved canopy thereon. Fig. 2 is an enlarged reversed planview of the improved canopy with its supporting-standard in section.Fig. 3 is an enlarged detached side view of the standard for the canopyin folded condition. Fig. 4 is an enlarged partly-sectional sideelevation of the canopy and supporting device therefor substantially onthe line 4 4 in Fig. 5. Fig. 5 is an enlarged transverse sectional viewsubstantially on the line 5 5 in Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is an enlarged reversedplan View of a portion of the canopy and its support. Fig. 7 is atransverse sectional View substantially on the line 7 .7 in Fig. 6. Fig.Sis an enlarged side view of a novel clamping-bracket for attaching thecanopy-standard upon the front post of the bicycle-frame, its positionbeing indicated by the arrow-8 in Fig. 1. Fig. 9 is a plan view of theclamping-bracket in position on the front post, shown in section, takenessentially on the line 9 9 in Fig. 8; and Fig. 10

is adetached front edge View of the stretcherframe for the canopy, seenin the direction of the arrow in Fig. 2.

The invention in brief comprises a canopy of silk or other availablefabric, preferably oblong in contour, and that is removably secured on-alight stretcher-frame, which is detachably held in position on thebicycle by an upright standard and a novel bracketclamp, the canopybeing adapted for rocking adjustment, so as to incline it at either sideof the bicycle for better protection of the rider from slanting rays ofthe sun, as occasion may require.

The invention further comprehends the provision and novel support of amirror at front of the canopy to enable the rider to see the objects ateither side and in the rear while in motion on the bicycle.

In carrying into effect the features of invention the canopy 10 isfurnished of light fabric, such as silk, but other material may be used.The canopy is held extended by the stretcher-frame 11, that is of anelongated and substantiallyrectangular form, made of small pipe orwire-rod material.

As shown best in Figs. 2 and 10, the stretcher-franle 11 is composed oftwo equal parts that are longitudinally disposed and are joined togetherat the end which is to the rear when in position for use by a hingeconnection a. The forward end portions of the frame 11 are bent towardeach other and then downward, so as to providea short limb b on eachframe member, said limbs being parallel with each other and sufficientlyseparated to permit them to engage with a support that will now bedescribed.

011 the front frame-post B of a bicycle A, below and near the handle-barC, a bracketclamp is located, which is part of the canopysupport. Thebracket-clamp (designated by the indicating-character 12 in Fig. 1) is.composed of four pieces, as clearly shown in Fig. 9, said parts a, c, d,and e being connected, as will now be explained. The part c is nearlysemicircular in its main portion and adapted to conform with theexterior of the cylindric portion of the post B, that it is to partlyembrace. On one edge of the semicircular portion of the piece 0 a flangec is formed that projects a suitable length therefrom, and at theopposite edge an ear is produced that is part of a hinge-joint. The partc is curved similarly to the piece 0, having its curved portion lessthan half the width of the latter, and on one edge has an ear thatcompletes a hinged connection with the part 0 when the ears on saidparts are jointed togetherwith a pintle a The remaining portion d of theclamp that embraces the post B is curved to fit upon said post, thecurved portion being about equal in width to the same portion of theclamping-section c. The section cl of the post-clamp is furnished with aflange d, that is the counterpart of the flange c and a thumb-screw boltd is provided to draw these flanges together. On the other edges of thecurved portions of the clamping-sections c and 01 two joint-leaves c dare formed, which are spaced apart sufficiently to receive between themthe joint-leaf e, that is formed on the portion 6 of the bracket-clamp12. The portion e is in the form of a longitudinallyperforated hubhaving a thumb-screw f engaging a tapped hole in one side of the same,the perforation in the hub receiving the loosely-fitting standard 13.

A thumb-screw 9 serves to clamp the jointleaves 0 d 6 together when saidparts are assembled, as shown in Fig. 9, and as these leaves are ofconsiderable-area their frictional contact, 7 enforced by thethumb-screw, is adapted to retain the hub e and standard 13 in verticaladjustment when the clamping portion of the bracket 12 is secured on theinclined post B, as shown in Figs. 1 and 8.

The standard 1-3 for the sake of lightness is preferably formed tubular,and in some cases it is desirable to constr-uctit with a rule-joint h,which will permit the standard to have its two members folded togetherwhen not in service, so as to render this port-ion of the device morecompact for transportation, as is represented in Fig. 3, the rigidextension of the members of the standard being effected by a thumb-screwh,that is the pintle of the rule-joint. The standard is preferablychanneled longitudinally, as at 2', to receive the end of the th-unib-screw f, which will prevent a rotatable movementofihe standard. Onthe upper endof the standard 13 a joint-plate k is affixed at the sidethat is opposite from the rule-joint h, if the latter feature isprovided, and on the joint-plate the T-shaped lever 14 is :pivotedthrough its main depending member, as clearly shown at t" in Figs. 1 and4.

The transverse head-harm of the T-shaped lever 14 is provided withenlargements at or nea'reach end of the same, which portions areverticallyperforated toreceive the neatlyfitting limbs b of thestretcher-frame 11, and set-screws n that laterally penetrate each ofthe. perforated enlargements men tioned'serve to hold said limbs inplace.

It will be seen that if the standard 13 is secured in an uprightposition the stretcherframe 11, when in place on the lever 14:, will behorizontally sustained and rearwardly projected above the saddle D ofthe bicycle at a suitable distance above the saddle, which may be variedat pleasure byasliding adjustment and subsequent fixture of the standardin the hub e of the bracket-clamp 12.

The preferred means for holding the canopy 10 on the frame 11 consistsin providing loosely-fitting rings 0, that are slid upon the frame overthe ends of the limbs 19, said rings being attached at spaced distancesapart on the inner surface of the canopy, so removed from the edgethereof that when the rings are engaged with the frame the material ofthe canopy will be rendered tau t, and a depending short curtain will beafforded as a finish around the exterior of the frame 11.

At the end of the canopy 10 which is farthest from the lever 1% therings 0 are detachably connected therewith by the springmetal open ringsp, that are stitched orotherwise fastened upon the inner surface of thefabric of the canopy, so that the open springloops of the rings p may bedetachably engaged with the rings 0 at said end portion'of the canopy,as indicated in Figs. 2, 6, and 7.

By providing the split spring-rings p for connecting the hinged end ofthe frame 11 with the canopy 10 it will be evident that if the rings 0are correctly positioned on the latter said canopy may be evenlydisposed and correctly stretched upon the upper surface of the frame 11.When it is desired, the release of the spring-rings from the rings'othat are on the frame 11 will allow the canopy to be removed along withsuch rings 0 as are attached thereto along its side portions and endthat is disposed over the frame members having the depending limbs bthereon.

The longitudinal extension of the canopy 10 renders it very serviceablefor screening the rider from the rays of the sun while in motion 'on'the vehicle, and as the frame 11 may be inclined to tilt the canopy 10by a lateral movement of the depending portion of the T-shaped lever 14it will be-apparent that an adjustment of the canopy'may be readilyeffected to protect the rider from the laterally-slanting rays of thesun, or froma rainstorm that is driven toward one side of the bicycle.

To add to the support of the canopy 10, it is preferred to utilize thetransversely-stretched cords 15, that'are attached at'their ends eithernally extended, as indicated in Figs. G and 7.

The small mirror 16 (before alluded to) is an advantageous feature oftheinvention, as it enables the rider to scrutinize those approaching atthe rear without requiring a change in position to do-so. The mirror ispreferably given an oblongshape and is'held in a suitable frame, thelatter being pivotedat its ends on the depending arms 1", that areintegral portions of a rockable'plate's, which is centrally pivoted, asat t, on the rear side of the transverse head member of the T- shapedlever 14, as shown in Fig. 5.

The pivotal supports of the mirror-frame enable the rider to tip themirror, so as to incline it from horizontal and vertical planes and thusreadily direct the mirror toward an object to be viewed, compensationfor undulations of the road-bed and the tipping of the canopy beingeffected quickly by slight movements of the mirror-frame.

When the entire device is to be packed together for carriage untilneeded, the frame 11 may be folded as well as the standard 13, and thecanopy 10 may be similarly treated, all said parts being adapted to forma very compact and small package that may be removably secured betweenthe frame members F G of a ladys bicycle such as shown in Fig. 1, andthus be carried conveniently until the canopy is needed for use.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent 1. A canopy, comprising a cover, a frame having spaceddepending limbs at one end, a standard, and a lever pivoted on thestandard and having a transverse head-bar provided with verticalopenings adapted to receive the depending limbs of the frame,substantially as specified.

2. A canopy, comprising a flexible cover, a two-part frame having itsparts jointed together at one end and having depending limbs at theother end, means to detachably secure the cover on the frame, astandard, and a lever pivoted on the standard and having a transversehead-bar provided with vertical openings to receive the depending limbsof the frame, substantially as specified.

3. A canopy, comprising an oblong flexible cover, a two-part oblongframe having its parts jointed together at one end and provided withspaced depending limbs at the opposite end, means to detachably securethe cover on the said frame, a standard, and a lever pivoted on the saidstandard near one end and having a transverse head-bar provided withenlargements at or near each end, the said enlargements being perforatedvertically and adapted to receive the spaced depending limbs of the saidframe, substantially as specified.

4c. In a canopy, the combination with a flexible cover, asupporting-frame therefor having spaced limbs at one end, and ringssecured to the under side of the cover at the sides and at one endthereof, and adapted to slide upon the frame over the ends of the limbs,the said rings being secured to the cover at spaced distances apart andat a sufficient distance from the edge thereof to form a dependingcurtain, of loose rings on the frame at one end and open rings securedto the inner surface of the cover at a corresponding end thereof andadapted for a detachable connection with the adjacent loose rings on theframe, substantially as specified.

5. The combination with an upright standard, of a rockable plate,pivotally connected at its central portion with the said standard nearthe upper end of the latter, the said rockable plate being formed at itsends with downwardly and rearwardly extending arms, and a mirror held ina suitable frame, the said frame being pivoted at its ends on the endsof the said arms, substantially as shown and described. 7

6. In a device of the described construction,

the bracket-clamp comprising a clasp formed in sections and adapted toembrace a post of the bicycle, one of said sections having asemicircular body portion and provided with a projecting flange at oneedge and an car at the opposite edge, a second section having a curvedpart of less width than that of the first section and provided with anear on one edge for hinged connection with the ear on thefirst-mentioned section and formed with a joint-leaf at its oppositeedge, and a third section having a curved portion and formed at one edgewith a flange adapted to be secured to the flange on the first-mentionedsection and having on the opposite edge a jointleaf corresponding withthe joint-leaf on the second section, and a standard-holder consistingof a perforated hub in which the standard is adjustable, the said hubbeing formed with a j oint-leaf adapted to be adj ustably securedbetween the joint-leaves of the said clasp, substantially as specified.

'7. A canopy, comprising a cover, a frame, a standard, and a leverpivoted on the standard and supporting the frame at its upper end,whereby the said frame may be readily inclined to tilt the canopy by thelateral movement-of the depending portion of the said lever,substantially as specified.

THOMAS THOMPSON. Witnesses:

WILLIAM A. RIGGS, EUGENE O. DEMPSEY.

